Tension-governor for pneumatic apparatus.



F. W. WOOD.

TENSION GOVERNOR FOR PNEUMATIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEG 31,1913.

Patented Nov.

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Witness cs ji /66w Y a r FWUHMHI w v fuirnn Etl Jim

FREDERICK W. WOOD, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOUR TENSION-GOVERNGR FOR PNEUMATIC All .PARIYIUS.

Specification of Letters E'atent.

latented Nov; 3, infi l.

Application filed December 31. 1913. Serial No. 809,702.

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, Fnnoniucn W lVoon,

a citizen of the United S ates, and a resident of Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and Stateof Missouri, have invented cer vide a device of the class specified, simple in construction and eilieient and operation.

Before describing the invention in detail I desire to have it understood that the invention is not limited to the particular conprompt in "struction and arrangement of parts which I have illustrated and shall hereinafter de scribe, and that various changes may be made in the mechanism shown without de parting from the spirit or scope of the invention, and that the phraseology which I employ is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings accompanying this specification is illustrated the preferred embodiment of my improvements, wherein-'- Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation,

partly diagrammatic, of so much of a pneumatic apparatus as is necessary to illustrate said improvements. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation similar to that of F "l, and showing some of the parts in positions different from those of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view similar to that of Fig. 2, illustrating a further change in posi tion. of some of the parts. Fi s. 2 and are to a smaller scale than that or Fig. 1.

l have illustrated my improvements as particularly adapted for use in connection with a pneumatic piano player, and as em ployed therein for accenting any given note by increasing or decreasing the hammer blow by means of the increase or decrease of the tension in the reservoir connected with the ope .ative pneumatics of the aforesaid hammers. i hile I have not shown said hammers opera 've pneumatics, they are well and the application of this known. in device the o v. ill be readily understood.

l tension chamber 2, is provided with a suction pipe 3, by which the air may be exhausted s he convenient means, such as an air pump of some well known construction. In this connection, it will be observed that my improved device is particularly applicable to a pneumatic piano in which the air pump is driven by power and in which the whole apparatus is automatic. Pipe l at the left hand e .d of said chamber may connect with the neumatic action ofthe piano,

as well understood. Said chamber 2 is pro vided with a plurality of air inlet valves, preferably three in number, 5, 6 and 7. Said valves are of the same general construction and a description of one will sullice for all.

Said valve 5 is fixed to one end of stem 8 and which stem passes outwardly through a convenient apcrture'in wall 9 of chamber 2, and thence through an aperture in bracket 10 fixed to said wall The seat for'valve may be dished at 11 and said dished portion may be connected by channels 12, 12 with the outside atmosphere. Said stem 8 may be provided with spring 13 therearound and with nut 1d threaded thereon, for varying the tension of said spring and thereby the power for closing said valve. Spring 15 for the stemof valve 6 is of less strength than 0 that of spring 13, and spring 16 onthe stem or" valve 7 is of greater strength than spring 13.

F or looking valve 6 (the low pressure valve) in its closed position, I provide the following: Diaphragm 17 is mounted in the usual manner over pocket 18 in wall 12 oh chamber 2, and said diaphragm may be provided with button 20 having the usual bleed hole therethrough. Said button in its operative movement engages extension 50 of valve 6. Pocket 18 is connected with the outside atmosphere by pipe 21. ll'ieans for closing the outer end of said pipe comprises valve 22, fixed to the free wall 23 of pneumatic 24:. Said pneumatic 24: is connected. by pipe with valve chamber 26. Valve chamher 26 is provided with an opening 27 into chamber 28, connected by channel 29 with chamber Saidvalve chamber 26 is also cormected with the outside atmosphere by opening 30, and the usual valve 31 is pro vided in said chambertor alternately-closing openings 27 and 30. Said valve 31 is ac tuated to close against opening 30 by means of the usual diaphragm 33 in engagement with the end of stem 34: said valve.

Chamber 32 below said diaphragm is connected with aperture in tracker bar 36 by means of pipe 37.

i For locking valve 5 (the medium pres,- sure valve) against opening, I provide diapocket 46. Said I vided for closing phragm 38 over pocket ;39 in Wall 19 of chamber'2. Said diaphragm is provided with button 40 for engagingextension 41 of said valve 5. Pocket 39 is connected by pipe 42 with pocket 43. Valve 44 is propocket 43 against the atmosphere. For lifting valve 44 by means of ltS StGIH 47, I provide diaphragm 45 over I pocket 46 is connected by pipe 48 with aperture 49 in tracker bar 36.

High pressure any means for locking in closed position,

for reasons which will appear in the following description of the operation of my im provcments,

Assuming that a suitable note sheet is arranged to pass downwardly oyer tracker .bar 36 and that air is being constantly exhausted from chamber 2, the operation of my improved device is. 'as follows: When apertures and 49 are covered by the note sheet. as in Fig.' 3,. low pressure valve 6 will be held in it's closed position by atmospheric pressure through pipe 21 against dia-. phragm 17, urging button 20 against 'extension 50 of said valve 6. Furthermore, as

xliereinbeforedescribed, spring 16 of valve 7 is more powerful than spring 13 of valve 5, whereby said valve 7 will be maintained against its seat in wall 90f chamber 2, and

if said chamber 2 is suffici'ently exhausted,

air will leak thereinto around valve 5 against the pressure of spring 13, whereby the tension of said chamber will be maintained at a uniform amount, gaged by the power of said spring 13. This condition is assumed to be the normal working condition ofmy device and the tension in chamber 2 may be described as, medium tension. If

139w it is desired to accent by increasing the blowof any lven note or notes, such for instance as in Y i note sheet, located, longitudinally for timand through pipe-48 to ing' with said openi 5.2 and transversely to register with trac or bar aperture 49.

en said perforation 53 passes over aperture 49, air is admitted into. thataperture below diaphragm 45. Said diaphragm is thereupon forced by the air'against the end o f'stem 47 and valve 44 is lifted from its seat, thereby admitting air into chamber 43 and through pipe 42 to the underside of diaphragm 38. Said diaphragm is thereupon forced by air pressure against extension 41 ofvalve' 5, whereby said valve is locked against its seat in wall 9, see Fi .-1. It will thus be seen that low pressurefvalve 6 and medium pressure valve T are locked aigainst opening. Continued suction throng pipe- 3, will therefore increasp the tenslon' in said chamber 2, whereby the note correspondingiwith perforation 52,,drawing its so n'ces of power fi'om, said will be struck a heavier blow valve. 7 lmprovided with by th icated by opening 52 in note. sheet 51 I provide perforation 53 in said.

than as" if either or both valves 5 and 6 were free to open under the tension of chamber 2. Topausthis-hig h tension to be uniform in amount, high pressure valve 7 i-s provided so that upon any tendency to exhaust chamber 2 beyond the resisting tension of spring 16 said valve 7 will be "unseated and air wild leak into said chamber to an amount in accordance with the power of spring 16. If now it is desired to accent bysoftening any iven note or notes such for instance as indicated by perfora tion-54 in the, note sheet, Fig, 2, perforation I 551s provided, suitably located transversely of the. note sheet to register with aperture 35 in the tracker bar. When said perforation passes over aperture 35 air is admitted to the aperttire, and through pipe 37 to chamber 32, whereby diaphragm 33 is forced against the end of stem 34 of valve 31, moving that Valve to close opening 30 the atmosphere and uncover opening 27 connected with suction chamber 2.

'Air is thereby exhausted from chamber 26 and, through pipe 25, pneumatic 24 is caused to collapse, closing valve 2.2 against the outer end ofp'pe 21. This permits diaphragm 1'?v towithdrawfrom against extension 50 of low pressure valve 6 whereby that valve is permitted to come into active opera tion. he tension in chamber 2, having previously been held at mid-pressure by spring 13, is now sharply reduced to low pressure, e opening of. valve 6 against low power spring115, whereby the note corresponding wit will be struck-a soft blow as desired.

It will he obvious that springs 13 and 15 may be of the same power if valves 5 and (Svary in their efi'ective areas. It will opening 54 in the note sheet also be obvious to those skilled in the art I that if the maximum tension exerted through pipe 3 is automatically maintained at the desired amount to produce the requisite heavy accent, valve 7 may be dispensed with and tension of three degrees 'produced, through governing means for closed; positions.

governor for pneumatic ap- 2. A tension paratus. including in combination a chamber, means for exhausting "air therefrom, a plurality of air lnlct valves to said chamber,

means for closingsaid valves, said closing means varying in power from one valve to another 'valve, and means for locking one or more of said valves in their closed positions.

3. A tension governor for pneumatic apparatus including in combination a chamber, means for exhausting air therefrom, a plurality of air inlet valves to said chamber, means for closing said valves, said closing means varying in power from one valve to another valve, means for regulating the power of said closing means for any given valve, and means for locking one or more of said valves in their closed positions.

4. A tension governor for pneumatic ap paratus including in combination a chamber, means for exhausting air therefrom, a plurality of air inlet valves to said chamber, means for closing said valves, said closing means varying in power from one valve to another valve, means for locking one or more of said valves in their closed positions, a tracker bar having a plurality of apertures therein, means governed by the uncovering of one of said apertures for actuating said locking means for one valve, and means governed by the uncovering of another of said apertures for actuating the locking means of another of said valves.

5. A tension governor for pneumatic apparatus including in combination a chamber, means for exhausting air therefrom, three air inlet valves to said chamber, independent means for closing each of said valves, means for locking one of said valves, means for locking another of said valves, a tracker bar having a plurality of apertures therein, means governed by the uncovering of one of said tracker bar apertures for actuating the locking means of the first mentioned valve for unlocking that valve, and means governed by the uncovering of another of said apertures for actuating the locking means of the second mentioned valve for locking that valve.

6. A tension governor for pneumatic apparatus including in combination aphambcr,

means for exhausting air therefrom, three air inlet valves to said chamber, independent means for closing each of said valves, the power of said closing means for one valve being greater than that for one of the other valves and less than that for the third valve, means for locking the low pressure valve, means for locking the medium pressure 'alve, a tracker bar having a plurality of apertures therein, means governed by the uncovering of one of said tracker bar apertures for actuating the locking means of the low pressure valve for unlocking that valve, and means governed by the uncovering of another of said apertures for actuating the locking means of said medium pressure valve for locking that valve. I

7. A tension governor for pneumatic apparatus including in combination a chamber, means for exhaustin air therefrom, three air inlet valves to said chamber, independent means for closing each'uof said valves, the power of said closing means for one valve being greater than that for one of the other valves and less than that for the third valve, means for regulating the power of said closing means for any given valve, means for locking the low pressure valve, means for locking the medium pressure valve, a tracker bar having a plurality of apertures therein, means governed by the uncovering of one of said tracker bar apertures for actuating the locking means of the low pressure valve for unlocking that valve, and means governed by the uncovering of another of said apertures for actuating the locking means of said medium pressure valve for locking that valve.

Signed at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, this 16 day of December, 1913, before two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK W. WOOD. Witnesses J. F. CAMPBELL,

Cues. L. Bnon'ron. 

